Aside from Arkle & Flyingbolt, which was the highest rated steeplechaser in history?

Whether or not the Timeform Annual Rating awarded to Arkle (212), or his contemporary stablemate Flyingbolt (210), is accurate remains open to question. Either way, the pair stands head and shoulders – or 20lb, in empirical terms – above any other steeplechaser to grace a racecourse in the last five decades or so.

On the whole, the Timeform Organisation is fastidious about keeping ratings consistent from one generation to the next, precisely so that comparisons can be made without the need for so-called ‘historical recalibration’. The veracity of ratings from the mid-60s aside, it therefore seems reasonable to use Timeform to identify the next highest-rated steeplechaser in history or, at least, in the history of that venerated authority.

The horse in question was Sprinter Sacre (192p), who ran his last race, as a ten-year-old, in April, 2016 but, even at that late stage, was considered likely to improve on his rating by the Timeform scribes. Owned by Caroline Mould and trained by Nicky Henderson, Sprinter Sacre won 14 of his 18 steeplechases, including the Arkle Challenge Trophy in 2012 and the Queen Mother Champion Chase twice, in 2013 and 2016. All told, he won nine times at the highest Grade One level and may, indeed, have been better yet, but for being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat in late 2013, which ruled him out for the whole of 2014.

Did Greville Starkey ever win the Derby?

Sadly, the late Greville Starkey, who died in April, 2010, at the age of 70, will always be best remembered for ‘losing’ the 1986 Derby. His mount, Dancing Brave, was sent off 2/1 favourite for the Epsom Classic but, having been held up at the rear of the field, was a long way out of his ground as the field turned for home. Dancing Brave made relentless progress up the straight but, at the winning post, was still half a length behind the winner, Shahrastani, ridden by Walter Swinburn. Starkey was, unjustly, pilloried for setting Dancing Brave an impossible task in a steadily-run race and one losing ride would overshadow his career.

To answer the question, yes, Greville Starkey did win the Derby and it shouldn’t be forgotten that, in so doing, he produced one of the boldest, strongest rides ever seen on Epsom Downs. In the 1978 Derby, Starkey rode Shirley Heights, trained by John Dunlop and, approaching the furlong marker, appeared to have little chance of winning as Hawaiian Storm, ridden by Bill Shoemaker, made the best of his way home. However, galvanised by Starkey, Shirley heights made rapid late progress against the inside rail, getting up to beat the long-time leader by a head in the final stride.

Who was Khalid Abdullah?

The late Khalid Abdullah, or His Highness Prince Khalid bin Abdullah Al Saud, to give him his full title, was one of the most influential, and successful, owner-breeders in the history of horse racing. Abdullah, who died in January, 2021, at the age of 83, recorded his first winner as an owner in Britain, Charming Native, trained by Jeremy Tree and ridden by Lester Piggott, at Windsor in May, 1979.

The following year, Abdullah bought Cayton Park Stud and Pudders Farm in Wargrave-on-Thames, Berkshire, which would become the basis for the hugely successful Juddmonte Farms breeding operation. Nowadays, the operation has 250 horses in training worldwide and, down the years, its familiar racing colours – green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves – have been borne to victory by such luminaries of the sport as Dancing Brave, Frankel and Enable, to name but three.

Indeed, over the last four decades, Abdullah had 118 Group One or Grade One winners worldwide. In Britain alone, he amassed a total of 2,485 wins, including 13 British Classics, and was champion owner three times, in 2003, 2010 and 2011. He won the 2,000 Guineas four times, the Derby three times and the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and St. Leger twice apiece. Internationally, he also won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe six times and remains the joint leading owner in the history of the Longchamp showpiece.

Did Seb Sanders once ride in his stockinged feet?

In 2007, jockey Seb Sanders rode 213 winners from 1,242 rides and eventually shared the jockeys’ title with Jamie Spencer. However, by the second half of 2015, at the age of 43, he was coming to the end of his career and had been struggling to keep his weight down for some time. The latter was the deciding factor in his controversial decision to become the first jockey in modern British racing to ride a race without wearing boots.

Late in the afternoon of Tuesday, September 1, 2015, Sanders was booked to ride Langley Vale, trained by Roger Teal, in an otherwise unremarkable six-furlong handicap at Goodwood. However, having arrived at the racecourse too late to have a sauna beforehand, he found himself unable to make the weight of 9st 5lb allotted to his intended mount. To the surprise of the Clerk of the Scales, and Teal, Sanders weighed out and rode in the race in his stockinged feet, with his lower legs protected only by his riding breeches, thereby saving half a pound or so.

In any event, Sanders attempted to make all the running but, having been headed with a furlong or so to run, Langley Vale faded in the closing stages to finish fourth, beaten 4¾ lengths, behind favourite Pettochside. Despite breaching no regulations, the following day Sanders attracted criticism from all and sundry, although he was quick to defend his actions, saying that ‘a mountain’s been made out of a molehill’.

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